Cigar-lighter.



J. W. BURNETT.

CIGAR LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13,1910.

972,81 1. Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

. determined 'ing of the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BURNETT, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM K. MASON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIGAR-LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BURNETT, of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Lighters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cigar lighter which comprises an electric resistance included in an electric circuit which is normally open, means being employed for closing the circuit and renderin the resistance incandescent when it is desired to light a cigar thereby. The resistance is usually composed of fine wire which is liable to be burned out by protracted heating, thus rendering the apparatus useless and requiring more or less frequent renewals of'the resistance.

My invention has for its object to prevent such prolonged heating of the resistance as wil be liable to in ure or destroy the same.

The invention. is embodied in a cigar lighter comprising an electric circuit, a resistance included therein, and a time switch which is operable to close the circuit and automatica y breaks the circuit after a preperiod, so that after the resistance has been heated long enough to ignite. a cigar, the circuit is broken, the arrangement being such that the circuit cannot be again closed'until sufiicient time has ela sed to materially reduce the temperature 0 the resistance,

resistance is impossible.

Of the accompanying drawings which form a part of this s ecification Figure 1 represents a front eievation of a cigar lighter embodying my invention, arts of the casin being broken away and s own in section. ig. 2 represents a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, the device being shown in its inoperative condition in'Figs. 1 and 2, the circuit being broken. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation showing the device in its 0 erative condition, the circuit being closed. igi i represents a view similar to a portion ig. 3 showing the circuit broken b the automatic action of the time switch. ig. 5 represents a section on line ,55 of Fi 2. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view 0 the casing containing the resistance coils.- Fig.

so that prolonged injurious heat- Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 re resents a suitable casing or holder ,which is ere shown as provided with a base 13 adapted to rest upon a horizontal support, although it is obvious that thecasing and the parts hereinafter described, supported thereby, may be of any suitable form and construction and su ported in any suitable way. The casing 1s r0. vided with an electrical resistance whic is preferably composed of a pluralit .of wire coils 14 connected in series as indicated in Fig. 7, the ends of the wire of which the series of coils are composed being connected with circuit wires 15 and 16. An electric circuit is provided which includes the wires 15 and 16, a battery 17, or other source of electricity, one pole of which is connected with the wire 15, as shown in Fig. 2, and a wire 18 connected with the other pole of the battery and havin located in an oscil atory switch carrier 20, hereinafter described. The circuit wire .16 has a terminal 21 which is also located in the carrier 20 in somewhat'close proximity to the terminal 19. The arrangement is such that the circuit is normally broken between the terminals 19 and 21 and is adapted to be closed to heat the resistance, by an electrical connection between the said terminals.

Thecarrier 20 is pivoted at 21. to the casing 12 and is adapted to be oscillated and successivelyassume the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The carrier is chambered internally to form an endless circulating conduit in which a circuit-closing and breaking device or switch 22, is movable, said switch being preferably a mass of mercury adapted to flow freely in the guide. The conduit includes a reservoir portion 23 adapted to contain the mercury switch when the circuit is broken, as shown in Fig. 2, a portion 23, which receives the terminals 19 and 21, the mercury being adapted to flow into the portion 23 when the carrierv is turned to'the position shown in Fig. 3, and

thus connect the terminals to close the circuit, and a. return portion 23, which is connectcd with the portion 23 by a contracted passage 23 When the carrier 20 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, the mercury 22 accumulates in the conduit portion 23 and closes the circuit. If the carrier 20' is held in the position last described the circuit remains closed until enough of the mercury flows through the contracted passage 23 to separate it from the terminal 19, as indicated in Fig. 4. The passage 23 is of such a size that the mercury flows freely through it, so that the circuit remains closed long enough to properly heat the resistance and enable a cigar to be lighted, the duration of the closing of the circuit depending on the size of the passage 23. Said passage is preferably formed in a metal plate or partition 24 extending across the conduit. After the circuit is. broken, the resistance immediately commences to cool so that the device cannot be again used for igniting purposes until the circuit has been again closed. In order to again close the circuit it is necessary to first restore the carrier 20 to the position shown in Fig. 1. This operation causes the mercury switch to flow through the return portion 23 of the conduit, and through a tubular extension 23 'which projects well into the reservoir portion 23, and is arranged, not only to deliver the mercury into said reservoir portion, but also to prevent any of the mercury from flowing directly from the reservoir portion into the return portion 23 the extension 23 acting as a stand-pipe, the end of which is elevated above the mass of mercury by the movement of the carrier 20 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3.

Means are provided for moving the carrier 20 from one position to another, said means preferably including a lever 25 pivoted at 26 to the casing and connected by a link 27 with the carrier 20, the depression of said lever movin the carrier from the position shown in F 1g. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, and a spring 28 connecting the lever with the casing 12 and adapted to automatically restore the removable parts to the position shown in Fig. 2.

It will now be seen that when the lever 25 is depressed, the mercury switch is moved.

to a position to connect the terminals 19 and 21 and thus close the circuit, and is held in its circuit-closing position for the predeter-,

The resistance coils 14 are preferably contained in a refractory ins'ulating case 29 constructed as shown in Fig. 6, sa1d case being preferably composed o-fplates of mica arranged to form compartments 30 in which the coils 14 are located.

31 represents a perforated screen or guard which bears uponjhe outer side of the resistance and prevents contact of a cigar with the coils, said guard being exposed through an opening 32 formed in the casing 12. The screen or guard 31 is preferably composed of a sheet of refractory insulating material such as mica adapted to bear on the coils without establishing a short circuit between them, and provided with perforations which permit the heat from the coils to light a cigar. If desired, the mica guard 31 may be protected by a layer 31 (Fig. 5) of wire gauze or perforated metal, the openings in which register with the openings in the mica guard. I

The resistance is preferably arranged in an inclined position relatively to the casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the portion of the casing at the upper and lower edges of the resistance being preferably provided with air passages 33 to permit circulation of air 90 through the resistance.

The carrier 20 is preferably a block of wood or other suitable material cut away at one side to form the major surfaces of the conduit, the carrier being preferably completed by a transparent plate 34 (Fig. 1) attached to the body of the carrier and forming-the outer side of the conduit, said transparent plate enabling the condition of the mercury switch to be readily observed. 0

35 and 36 represent stops adapted to limit the movements of the carrier 20.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction shown and described and may variously modify the same without departing from the spirit of invention.

It will be seen that the terminal-containing portion of the conduit is formed to permit a quick entrance of the mass of mercury in to said portion when the carrier is turned to position shown in Fig. 3 and a slow escape of the mercury from said portion. It will also be seen that the conduit is practi cally endless and is formed to cause a progressive circulating movement of the mercury by gravitation when the carrier is moved as described.

I claim:

1. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination with an electric circuit including a resistance element, of a switch for controlling said circuit .and'provided with means made operative by the closing of the circuit for automatically breaking the circuit after a predetermined period, whereby injurious 12 5 heating of the resistance is'prevented.

2. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination with an electric circuit including a resistance element, of a switch for controlling said circuit, and means for manually operating said switch to close the circuit, said switch including means controlled by gravitation tor automatically breaking the circuit after a predetermined period, whereby injurious heating of the resistance is prevented.

3. In an electric cigar lighter, the combination with an electric circuit including a resistance of. a time switch in said circuit made operative by the closing of the circuit nation with an electric circuit including a resistance element, of a switch for controlling said circuit, and means for manually operating said switch to close the circuit, said switch being provided with means for automatically breaking the circuit after a predetermined period irrespective of the position of said manual operating means.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. BURNETT. Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, 1?. IV. PEZZETTI. 

